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Making the management of your pet’s diabetes accurate and easy

AlphaTRAK® 2 is the blood glucose monitor veterinarians use the most to measure blood sugar levels of diabetic dogs and cats in their clinics¹. Monitoring at home is a vital part of managing your pet’s diabetes.

Does your dog or cat show signs of diabetes?

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Signs of diabetes in cats and dogs

The clinical signs of diabetes can vary from pet to pet, but include:

Fatigue or weakness
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Increased hunger

Could your pet have diabetes? Take our quiz to find out.

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What pet owners and doctors are saying about AlphaTRAK

Graeme and Heather have a 12 year old dog that was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago. Living 30 minutes away from the closest veterinarian, AlphaTRAK has empowered them to take their dog Trey’s glucose level management into their hands.

Where to Buy

illustration of a dog and man holding an AlphaTRAK 2 meter

Earn up to $12 in rewards

The Zoetis Petcare Rewards Program offers a rewarding way to partner with your veterinarian to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. With your AlphaTRAK 2 purchase, earn Rewards Points that can be used toward any expense at your veterinary clinic.

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What makes AlphaTRAK 2 the top‑rated pet glucometer

: AlphaTRAK 2 is the portable blood glucose monitor most veterinarians use in the clinic<sup>1</sup>
Take comfort in knowing that you’re using the #1 recommended, #1 sold and #1 used portable pet glucometer among veterinarians.
: Calibrated for dogs’ and cats’ glucose distribution
The AlphaTRAK 2 meter is designed to account for the differences in the distribution of glucose within the blood of dogs and cats, so results are accurate, reliable and easy to understand.
: One-touch settings for dogs or cats
AlphaTRAK 2 has automatic settings for dogs and cats in order to account for the difference in glucose distribution. See how to change the code settings for dogs or cats on your meter.
: No calculations or conversions required
Glucose readings with AlphaTRAK 2 are instant, easy to read and ready to communicate to your veterinarian. No math required!
: Meter provides accurate blood glucose readings in seconds
With proper use, results are ready before you can say “good boy” or “good girl.”
: Requires very small blood sample
Are you a little blood shy? Don’t worry! The amount of blood required to get an accurate reading is only .3 microliters – can mean fewer re-sticks – much smaller than that of other pet glucometers.
: Easy to use
Your veterinarian should help you perform your first blood glucose reading in the clinic, with your pet, to help familiarize you with the process. From our experience, by the third time, most pet owners are pros.
: More accurate than human meters for pet diabetes<sup>2</sup>
The way glucose, or blood sugar, is distributed in pets’ blood is very different from the way glucose is distributed in human blood. Human meters do not account for this difference and therefore are not accurate if used for pet blood glucose monitoring. AlphaTRAK is designed specifically for dogs and cats for accurate and reliable blood glucose readings.

The AlphaTRAK 2 Starter Kit

Get all the supplies you need to start performing blood glucose tests at home. Ask your veterinarian to do the first test with you in the clinic, so you can get comfortable with the process.

Where to buy AlphaTRAK 2

Visit one of our trusted resellers or a veterinarian near you to buy the AlphaTRAK 2 meter, AlphaTRAK Starter Kits or other AlphaTRAK supplies, such as test strips and lancets.

Buy AlphaTRAK 2 at These Retailers:

Communication with your vet is the key to success

The PetDialog app lets you connect with your local veterinary practice as well as keep track of your pet’s life and health. You can track readings, set reminders, and communicate results to your veterinarian.

Download the PetDialog app on Apple App Store or Google Play

mobile phones showing PetDialog app on screens

Why use AlphaTRAK 2?

AlphaTRAK 2 is the blood glucose monitor used and prescribed the most among veterinarians¹. AlphaTRAK is calibrated for dogs and cats and accounts for the differences in the blood makeup of different species. Results are accurate, easy to obtain from the comfort of home and available quickly. Sometimes, pet owners choose to use human blood glucose meters instead of a pet glucometer. Human meters are created and calibrated for measuring the concentration of glucose in a human’s blood. When a human blood glucose meter is used for a dog or cat, it assumes human blood composition to calculate glucose levels. This can result in underestimation of blood glucose concentrations and inaccurate readings.

What are the differences between a human and a pet glucose meter?

Blood glucose meters intended for human use are calibrated to detect glucose in human blood. The way glucose is distributed in human blood differs greatly from the way it is distributed in the blood of dogs and cats. Human meters do not account for this difference and underestimate the level of glucose in the blood, producing inaccurate results². AlphaTRAK 2 is calibrated specifically for the blood of dogs and cats. Because dog and cat blood differ from one another as well, AlphaTRAK has specific settings for dogs or cats.

Does the meter store results?

Yes. The AlphaTRAK 2 meter stores test results in its memory. To learn how to use and review the meter memory, please see page 30 of the AlphaTRAK Complete User’s Manual.

What is a lancing device?

The lancing device is a pen-sized tool with a spring mechanism and trigger button that is used in conjunction with lancets to obtain blood samples from cats and dogs. The lancing device included in the AlphaTRAK Starter Kit has 9 depth settings. Depending on when your device was purchased, the settings may be numbered 1 through 9 or 1 through 5 with a half-step in between each whole number. On both, 1 is the shallowest setting and the highest number is the deepest. We recommend starting with the deepest setting on the first attempt to draw blood. Then, if your pet bleeds easily, you can dial the depth back. This is to ensure adequate blood is available for the test and could help avoid needing to prick the pet again.

Can I use expired strips or is the expiration date just a suggestion?

Expired strips cannot guarantee accurate results. Discard expired strips and use new strips.

Does getting a blood sample hurt my cat/dog?

The lancing device delivers a very minor prick with little to no discomfort for your pet. It may help to familiarize your pet with the sound of the lancing device until they get used to it and reward them with a diabetes-friendly treat afterwards to maintain positive association with the process. If you choose the paw pad for your testing site, it may help to use the lancing device on the side of the paw pad, rather on the bottom part that the pet steps on when walking.

Can I use a different brand of test strips?

Use only AlphaTRAK 2 test strips and AlphaTRAK control solution with this meter. Using previous versions of the AlphaTRAK test strips or other brands of test strips and control solution with the AlphaTRAK 2 meter may produce inaccurate results.

What factors can affect glucose meter results?

A pet’s blood glucose can spike or dip depending on several factors. These include:

Eating
Exercise
Anxiety, such as being left alone or having company in the house
Moments of activity, like chasing a squirrel or active play
A visit to the veterinarian

Other factors that could affect glucose meter results include using expired test strips, not adding enough blood to the test strip or using test strips that are not compatible with the AlphaTRAK 2 meter.

AlphaTRAK 2 resources

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References:

Data on file, Zoetis Market Research: Blood Glucose Monitoring Report, July 2017, Zoetis Inc.
Data on file, Study Report No. 11-06-MC-D-CT-AT, Zoetis Inc.

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The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may not have marketing authorization or may have different product labeling in different countries. The animal health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with an animal healthcare professional. All decisions regarding the care of a veterinary patient must be made with an animal healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

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